Centrifuge-balancing device



May 27 1924. 1,495,933

A. L. SWANCARA CENTRIFUGE BALANCING DEVICE Filed Oct, 29. 1923 Sheets-Shoot 1 WIT-HESS:

' v ATTORNEY Filed Oct 29 1923 '3 Sheets- Sheet ATTOHN EY WITNESS:

a Shaw-shut 5 A L SWANCARA CENTRIFUGE BALANCING DEVICE Filed Oct. 29. I923 maMWva/ May "27 1 WIIZNESS:

Patented May 27, 1924.

I 1,495,933 PATENT OFFICE.

ARNOLD LEO SWANCARA, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

GENTRIFUGE-BALANCING DEVICE.

T0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that i, ARNOLD L. SwANoAm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas. have invented new and useful Improvements in Centrifuge-Balancing Devices. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to centrifugal machines and has for its object the provision of a novel centrifuge head which will automatically balance and thereby compensate for any difference between the weights of the two cups.

As is well known, under the present methods, the centrifuge cups must be taken out of their sockets and balanced on a separate device. a condition which is inconvenient and awkward especially because the centrifuge cups will not stand upright but must be supported in special holders.

Ordinary balances will not sufiice as they are not provided with any means for holding the cups upright. As a matter of factthe difficulties experienced in balancing the cups or tubes are sufficiently annoying that many workers prefer not to balance the tubes atall. If the tubes are unbalanced the result is that the drive shaft of the machine wears so that in a short time the centrifuge becomes worthless. Another disadvantage of not balancing is that unless the machine be screwed down onto its support it will move about on account of the jar or vibration caused by the inequality in the weight of the tubes.

With the above facts in view I have designed the present device which comprises in the one machine the functions of the centrifuge and a balance so that separate devices will not be necessary.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture. easy to use. positive in action, efiicient and durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consistsv in the details of construction to be herein,- after more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention showing the parts locked,

Application filed October 29, 1923.

Serial No. 671,521.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the ball member or support,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cap and beam,

Figure 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, A

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts in the position to permit use of the device for balancing.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the sleeve that is slidably mounted on the extension of the ball head.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the nut that adjusts the said sleeve.

Figure 10 is a view of a centrifugal cup or tube. showing the manner of mounting it on the rotary arm.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral. 10 designates an upright shaft of the device which is formed or which carries. at its upper end. a ball head 11 above which is a threaded extension 12. This head is formed with two sockets 13 located at opposite sides and is provided with an outwardly extending pin 14 beneath which is a series of graduations 15.

Mounted upon this ball head is the beam structure which includes a partially spherical shell cap 16 fitting upon the ball 11 and formed at opposite ends with arms 17 terminating in forks or yokes 18 between which are pivoted the centrifuge cups or tubes 19. The cap 16 is formed with an opening 20 for the passage of the extension 12 but this opening is of considerably greater diameter than the extension. so that the beam may have rocking movement upon the ball head. Leading into the opening 20 at diametrically opposite points are slots 21 which register with the sockets 13, and formed in the lower portion of the cap is a vertically elongated slot 22 which receives the pin 14 whereby the beam will be prevented from rotary movement with respect to the head while atthe same time it may have rocking movement with the pin 14 as a pivot. Beneath the slot 22 the beam is formed with a pointer 23 which is movable over the graduations 15 for indicating the balance or disclosing an inequality in the weights of the cups 19.

Slidable upon the extension 12 is a sleeve 24 formed with depending guide pins 25 which extend "into .the inner ends i of the sockets 18for -;preventing the sleeve from rotating with respect to the ball head. Formed on the sleeve are lateral lugs 26' which are adapted tor enter theslots 21:, and sockets '13. -At its upper end the sleeve is formed with an outstanding flange '27.

Screwed onto the extension 12 is a nut 28 which is formed with a'groove 29 receiving the fiange 27. ,The sleeve 24: is naturally only semi-cylindrical in I shape as otherwise the fiange27 could not be engaged within the groove 29,

'Inthe use of the device, it will be apparent that when the nutQSis unscrewed to' a certain extent, the sleeve 24 will? be raised so that the lugs 26 will be withdrawn from engagement withinthe sockets 13 and slots 2-1. The beam is flthenffree to rock uponfthe balT-head, the pivot' point being the pin 14: orf'the axis at,whichr the pin is located. I Differences in the weight ot-the i cups. IQLand'theircontents will be disclosed by swinging movement of the beam and travel of'thepointen 23 over the graduations 15. In this way the device acts as albalance so that -the weight in the-two cups may .be

made uniform.

After" balancing has been effected, the nut 28 is.scre ed down whereuponthe lugsr26 on the sleeve 24 will enterthe slots21 and socket 13 and consequently] hold the beam firmly gainst any movement whatever other than rotary or so as to,permit avery slight movement which will compensatef for any. very: slight lack oibalance.

iFrom, the "foregoing description and a tudy of the drawings it will be apparent that I havelthus provided a simply conbasefivill runsmoothly and will not vibrate of ,Lcourse'to be"understoodthat" I reserve orl-jar and conseq'uently' move about on its support. I v Y i While f I have shown! described the preferred embodiment of my invention it. is

thei'rightfto make such "changes in the form, 7

construction and arrangement of ,parts as will not-depart from the spirit of. the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a centrifuge, a head, a beam rocka-blymounted upon the head and carrying cups, means for holding said beam against rotary movement with respect to the head, and means for holding the vbeam against rocking movement. v

2. In a centrifuge, a ball head, a beam mounted thereon and including a) partially spherical cap rockably engaged upon the head and further including armscarrying cups, and =movably mounted means engage-- able with the cap for holding the beam against rocking movement.

3. In a centrifuge, a ball headcarrying an extension at its top, a beam including cup carrying arms and a partiallysphericalcap rockably engaged upon the head, and means movably mounted on said extension and en geable with the cap for holdingthebeain ainst rocking movement. 7 l

4. In a centrifuge va ball head carrying an extension atits top, a beamlincluding cup carrying arms and avpartiallyrspherical cap rockablyengaged upon the head, and means movably mountedpn said extensionandengageable with the cap for holding the beam against rocking movement, said means com prising a sleeve s lidable on the extensionand formedwith lugs, a nuton the extension engaging 'thefsleevefl and the ball cap andhead being formed .with openings for the recep-f tion of said lugs.

5. In a centrifugea head, a beamrpivoted thereon for rockingmovement, a pointer car ried by the beam, and a plurality of gradua-. tions on the head over which the pointer travels. and means. movably mounted on the. head' and "engageable with the beam for holding'the same againstrocking movement,

"6.In a centrifuge, a headformed wi th, an upstanding threaded extension and'formed' with sockets. at the sides of the extension, a beam rockably mounted ,uponfthe head means for holding the beam against rotation with rspect tothe head, the" beam having an opening for the passage ofthe extenlsion and being formed withslots registeringwith said sockets a sleeve. on .said extension .carrying lugs adapted to be engaged within said slots and sockets, and a nut onthe.eX.-, tension connected withthe sleeve for raising and lowering the, same. 7 a,

In testimony wh'ereotI aanmy signature. 

